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| Gov. Schwarzenegger, President Ortiz and others listen to Hector Rodriguez, a 6th-grader at Columbus Elementary School in Glendale. (Photo courtesy of the Governor's Office) |
University President Michael Ortiz recently met with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and local school officials in Glendale to discuss a bond measure that would generate $10.4 billion to improve facilities at California's schools, colleges and universities.
“Every child in California deserves a quality education. Improving the state of education in California is a complicated, long-term issue. However, there is something we can do now,” says Cal Poly Pomona President Michael Ortiz. “I urge everyone who is eligible to vote to research the issues in the upcoming Nov. 7 elections and make their voices heard.”
If approved, Proposition 1-D would create $690 million over the next two years for the California State University's capital facilities projects. Cal Poly Pomona is positioned to receive about $10.3 million.
“This is for building new schools, building new classrooms, modernizing tens of thousands of other classrooms, expanding our university system and expanding our community colleges,” Gov. Schwarzenegger said at Columbus Elementary School in Glendale on Oct. 23. “We can have the best teachers in the world, but if our kids study in overcrowded classrooms, they're not going to get the education that they deserve. So we need to do a better job in this, and this is why this money is very important.”
If sufficient monies become available from Prop 1-D, another $31.4 million may be used for the new building for the university's College of Business Administration, which is also on the list of approved projects to receive Prop 1-D funding.
University of California would receive $890 million and California Community Colleges would receive $1.5 billion. K-12 districts would receive the remaining $7.3 billion.
The Legislative Analyst's Office estimates that the state would need to pay $680 million per year for 30 years to pay off the $10.4 billion bond.
Some opponents have voiced concern about the cost of the bond for the state, the variety of new programs funded and the fact that it is designed to fund only two years of need.
Proponents argue that it is a fiscally responsible way to finance school repair and construction, makes schools earthquake safe, and does not bite off more than the state can afford now.
For more information about the bond as well as arguments for and against the measure, visit www.ss.ca.gov/elections, click on the Voter Information Guide button and scroll down to Prop 1-D. Additional information can be found at www.easyvoter.org and www.videovoter.org/index.php/california.